A criminal gang arrive in London from America and look out for a new crime operation. They open a night club with gambling activities and eventually decide to rob a department store, Sherwood's, of its staff wages. This busy film cuts between the doings of the gangsters and the staff of the department store until it all comes together at the end with a lively shoot out in the store itself. It drags in places but otherwise is entertaining and the cinematography by Victor Arménise looks good. The sets are impressive particularly the department store, which on the outside looks like Selfridges in Oxford Street.
There are a lot of characters to follow and the actors acquit them selves well. A smooth Basil Sydney is 'Joker' Finnigan the leader of the gang and Paul Cavanagh is the equally smooth Inspector Gary. Supporting are a host of good actors including Danny Green, Torin Thatcher, Googie Withers, Esme Percy and in a very brief scene the great Edward Rigby as a jeweller.
Part of the plot is that the owner of the store Mr Sherwood hires a lookalike called Reilly to wander about the store while he spends the time on the golf course. By an enormous (and unconvincing) coincidence the criminal gang knows Reilly from New York and can use this to their advantage. Sherwood and Reilly are played by the same actor, Joseph Cawthorn, who differentiates both characters very skilfully. When they both appear on screen at the same time the photography is flawless.
There is a lot going on in the film and it doesn't all quite gel together but nevertheless worth a watch.
There are a lot of characters to follow and the actors acquit them selves well. A smooth Basil Sydney is 'Joker' Finnigan the leader of the gang and Paul Cavanagh is the equally smooth Inspector Gary. Supporting are a host of good actors including Danny Green, Torin Thatcher, Googie Withers, Esme Percy and in a very brief scene the great Edward Rigby as a jeweller.
Part of the plot is that the owner of the store Mr Sherwood hires a lookalike called Reilly to wander about the store while he spends the time on the golf course. By an enormous (and unconvincing) coincidence the criminal gang knows Reilly from New York and can use this to their advantage. Sherwood and Reilly are played by the same actor, Joseph Cawthorn, who differentiates both characters very skilfully. When they both appear on screen at the same time the photography is flawless.
There is a lot going on in the film and it doesn't all quite gel together but nevertheless worth a watch.